Page 19 of Septembers

Jason smirked and nodded across the street to where Dae was standing, shoulders stiff, with a girl. She was stylish and tall, with long, wild hair, dark skin, and fast moving lips that forced Dae to nod along at a speed Theo had never seen before.

“Oh, no.” He abandoned the couch to rescue him, barely registering Jason’s voice telling him to leave it be.

“...in the neighbourhood is welcome, even the non-students, though I don’t think there are many. You should come. All of you.” She gave Theo a quick consolation glance as he approached. Dae nodded, his lips pressed together, his hair sticking to his neck with moving-day sweat, and his damp shirt clinging to his chest. Theo could see why this girl was entranced.

“Yes,” he said, supplying an answer where Dae faltered. “We’ll definitely be there.”

“Okay, awesome!” Her smile was bright and unguarded, like she’d only ever heard great news her entire life. “Come by any time after nine. And don’t worry, we’ll blast the AC.”

“Essential.” He threw a glare at the sky. “Since Mother Nature seems to be playing a prank on us today.”

“Seriously, it’s so hot.” (Nineteen.) She finally shifted her attention to Theo, and wow, if the force of her beauty had a gay guy swooning, he couldn’t imagine how the straights handled it. She aimed it at Dae again, likely knowing exactly what she was doing. “Anyway, it’s BYOB, but I’ll save a Jello shot for you.” She winked. Winked! Then headed back to her house, glancing over her shoulder three times before disappearing inside.

Dae waited until she was out of sight before he let out the breath he was holding. “All things considered, I think I handled that well.”

Theo patted his shoulder. “I’m very proud of you.”

“I don’t actually have to go, though, right?”

“Yes, I’m afraid you do.” Theo laughed at Dae’s attempt at a glare-tantrum. “That gorgeous girl was obviously flirting with you. Please tell me you realize that.”

For the past year, Theo had been not-so-subtly coaching Dae to both recognize and act on romantic interest, which was beneficial to them both, for reasons he refused to examine.

“Guys!” Jason gestured to the couch, and Theo begrudgingly paused his life-changing pep talk as they all shuffle-grunted it into the house.

“Okay!” Jason clapped three times fast as if getting the attention of second-graders. “On to the kitchen.” His enthusiasm was met with a chorus of groans. “Okay, fine, we’ll tackle it later. But Theo, there’s no space for your weird mug collection, so move them or they end up in the attic."

Theo hadn’t even known they had an attic. He rescued his box of mugs and deposited them safely in his room upstairs.

Jordan

House party tonight

Across the r

Shit across the rd from us

Youre coming

#1 Client Extraordinaire

obviously

Unpacking should’ve been his first priority, but instead, he started taping up a collage of pictures he’d taken with the retro polaroid camera his Aunt Liana had given him: Dae wearing the sweater Caleb made him, Jordan singing at an open mic, the four roommates dressed as Super Mario characters for Halloween, their visit to an all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant (where Theo only flicked one dumpling across the table with his chopsticks), Caleb’s music club recital (which he insisted was not a recital), and midterm celebrations, among others.

The soft tap on his door was unmistakably Dae. Even his knock was shy. “Come in, Dae.”

He’d just taken a shower, and his damp hair dripped onto the shoulders of his t-shirt. “We’re ordering food.”

“Pizz—”

“Something healthy. All you’ve had today is coffee and Caleb’s rice crispy squares.” He noticed the pictures with an almost-smile, then an adorable frown. “Why is this one here?”

“Because it was the first time I saw you drunk, and it was magical.” In the picture, Dae was curled on the couch, his face almost matching his rose sweater, his cheeks puffed in an eyes-closed smile, his dimples on full display.

“So, um...” Dae picked up the Learning is a Hoot mug from the box and placed it on a shelf, the owl facing out. “Yeah, so, I’ll go to the party tonight, but you have to promise me something.”

Theo put one hand on his chest and held the other up in a vow. “I won’t leave your side.”